Written by

JASON WEST

Correspondent

COSHOCTON - The big plays on offense were there when they were needed, but it was the second half performance of the defense that was key as Coshocton posted a 23-19 victory over Cambridge on Parent's Night at Stewart Field.

While the two teams traded punches to a 17-17 tie at halftime it was the Redskin defense that won the game in the second half.

The first big play was turned in by Nick Shaw who recovered a fumble and rambled 11 yards for a touchdown and while the extra point failed it was all the Red and Black needed to win up 23-17 with 7:47 left in the third quarter.

"We just talked about effort and intensity in the second half," Coshocton coach Marty Arganbright said. "We just wanted to maintain that consistency and that's the name of the game on defense."

While Coshocton's (5-2, 2-2 ECOL) scored the only touchdown of the second half the biggest plays were turned in midway through the fourth quarter.

Zach Freeman returned a James Pyle punt to the Coshocton 31 yard line with 7:14 left in the game.

Two plays later the Bobcats (4-3, 2-2 ECOL) were at the six yard line and appeared to be heading in for the equalizing touchdown.

Three running plays by Tyler Hardesty set up a fourth-and-goal at the one but the Redskin led by Seth Nolan stuffed the Bobcat running back for a loss to end the threat.

"I wasn't sure what was coming but just thought it would come to my side," Nolan said. "The defensive line filled and that was the biggest play of the game."

Coshocton elected to take an intentional safety rather than punt from its own end zone and any threat of a Cambridge two-minute drill touchdown came to an end on a Devan Kimberley interception to end things with just over a minute to go.

Trevor Bradford capped an impressive opening drive by Coshocton with a 34-yard field goal at the 5:49 mark to give the hosts a 3-0 lead.

After a Cambridge punt Marcus Johnston electrified the crowd with a 52-yard touchdown scamper with 2:39 left in the opening quarter to make it 9-0 after a missed point after.

After a 41 yard touchdown run from Tyler Hardesty, Cambridge countered with a field goal of its own from Nick Liptak, who also booted the point after touchdown kick, at the 6:55 mark of the second quarter from 43 yards away making it 10-9.

The Redskins came right back with another touchdown, this one by Dom McCluskey from 37 yards out and when Nolan found Cody Sampsel with the two-point pass it was 17-10 with 6:31 left in the first half.

With 1:02 remaining in the half, Kirk Wetherell hauled in a Vince Daugherty pass and raced 40 yards for a score and with Liptak's extra point it was 17 all headed into the locker room.

Coshocton plays its final home game of the season next week when they host Indian Valley.